Joseph pokorny



J. POKORNY.

WINDOW AWNING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2|. 1919.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

,j'zoercg paivrzy.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH POKORNY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

WINDOW-AWNING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

Application filed February 21, 1919. Serial No. 278,326.

To all "whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrir POKORNY, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in lVindow- Awnings, of which the following is a full,

V clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to window awnings of the type which comprise a strip of canvas or other suitable fabric connected at its upper end to a spring roller and at its lower end to the cross piece of a yoke-shaped frame whose side arms are pivotally connected at their inner ends to sleeves which slide on vertically-disposed guide rods at the sides of the window frame, the upper portion of said strip of fabric being held in a vertical position when the awning is open by means of a transversely-disposed bar or member arranged at approximately the center of the window opening.

One object of my invention is to provide a window awning of the general type referred to in which the transversely-clisposed member or bar that holds the upper portion of the fabric in a vertical position is so constructed and arranged that there is no liability of its binding on the guide rods on which said member slides, even though said member becomes arranged in a slightly angular position, and even though the guide rods are not arranged in absolutely parallel relation to each other.

Another object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive window awning of the type referred to that can be easily installed and which is so constructed that the shiftable member or bar under which the strip of fabric passes is locked securely to the window frame when said member is arranged in operative position at the center of the window opening.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a front elevational view of a window awning constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the awning.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the awning closed or in its raised position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, illustrating the connection between the transversely-disposed bar and the sleeve at one end of same and also the means used for locking the said bar to the window frame when the awning is in use; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, illustrating the means that I prefer to use for securing the lower end of the strip or fabric to the cross piece of the yoke-shaped frame that holds the lower portion of the fabric extended.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A designates a strip of canvas or other suitable fabric whose upper end is connected to a spring roller B mounted in brackets 1 arranged on the side members of the window frame adjacent the upper. end of the window opening, said spring roller being similar to the spring rollers now generally used for window shades and provided with a winding spring (not shown) that turns the roller in a direction to wind the fabric A onto same, and locking dogs (not shown) for locking the roller and holding it against rotation. The lower end of the strip of fabric A is connected to the cross piece '2 of a yoke-shaped frame whose side arms 3 are pivotally connected at. their inner ends to sleeves A which slide on vertical]y-disposed guide rods 5 arranged at the sides. of the window opening, as shown in Fig. 1. When the awning is lowered 01' in use, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the strip of fabric A passes under a transversely-disposed bar or member C arranged at approximately the center of the window opening and mounted on the guide rods 5 in such a manner that it will be shifted upwardly into an inoperative position adjacent the upper side of the window opening when the awning is raised, said member C serving to hold the upper portion of the fabric A in a substantially vertical position, as shown in Fig. 2 when the awning is in use. The spring roller B is adapted to be turned in a direction to trip the locking dogs of same or to unwind. the fabric A from said roller by means of a tape 6, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3. If it is desired to raise the awning from its operative position shown in Fig. 2, it is only necessary to pull downwardly on the tape (3 sufficiently to trip the locking dogs of the roller B, and thus permit the spring of said roller to rotate the roller in a direction to wind the fabric A onto same, the upward pull that is exerted on said fabric causing the yoke-shaped frame connected to the lower end of the fabric to swing upwardly on the sleeves 4 and then travel upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3, the 'cross piece 2 of said yoke-shaped frame striking the bearings at the ends of the transverselydisposed bar or member C and moving said bar upwardly into an operative position asthe sleeves 4 slide upwardly on the guide rods 5. When it is desired to lower 'the awning it is only necessary to pull downwardly on the tape 6, so as to turn the roller B in the opposite direction and unwind the fabric from the roller, the yoke-shaped frame and the transversely-disposed member C sliding downwardly on the guide rods 5 until the sleevesa reach the lower end of saidguide rods and'the member C reaches a point at approximately the center of the window opening, the side arms 3 of said yoke-shaped frame swinging forwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2 after the sleeves t'havecome to rest.

One feature of my present invention consists in Constructing the transversely-disposed bar or member 0 in such a manner that it'will not bind on the guide rods 5 in case said member becomes arranged in a slightlyangular position, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, or in case the guide rods 5 are not arranged in absolutely parallel relationto each other; I accomplish this desirable result by pivotally connecting the member C to tubular-shaped bearings 7 that slide on the guide rods 5 and forming the pivotal connection between said member C and tubular bearings in such a manner that said bearings can 'move' outwardly and inwardly with relation tothe ends. of the member .0, as shown in Fig. 4;, the connection between the memberCand each of the bearings? being formed by a pin 8 on one of said parts that passes through an elongated slot 9 in the other part. Each of the pins Sis preferably carried by a air of inwardly-proj eating ears or lugs 10 on the tubular bearing 7 that embracesthe end of the member 0, and the elongated slot 9 is formed in said member C in such a manner. that the pin 8 passes transversely through same. Such a connection permits the transversely-disposed member. or bar C to assume an angular position, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, without causing the bearings 7 to bind on the guide rods, and it permits the bearings 7 to move inwardly or outwardly with relation to the member C sufficiently to compensate for any slight mal-alinement of the. two vertical guide rods 5 arranged at the sides of the window opening.

Means is provided for locking the trans-c versely-disposed bar or member C to the window frame when said member is arranged, in its operative position, so as to eliminate the possibility of said member'becoming disarranged, or the guide rods 5 being bent outwardly, in case the fabric A of the awning is subjected to an abnormal strain, as for example, in a high wind storm. Said means preferably consists of hookshaped devices 11 on the rear sides of the tubular bearings 7 that project downwardly into eyes or staples 12 on the side members of the window frame when the awning is in use, said eyes or staples 12 also serving as stops to limit, the downward movement of the transversely-disposed member C and hold said member in its operative position at approximately the center of the window opening. The tubular bearings 7 are also preferably provided at their front sides with forwardly-projecting lugs 13 that serve as stops against which the cross piece 2 of the yoke-shaped frame strikes and moves said member O upwardly during the operation of raising the awning.

Theguide rods 5 are retained in operative position preferably by means of brackets 14; on the side members of the window frame provided with internally screw -threaded openings into which the lower ends of the rods 5 are screwed, and-ring-shaped devices 15 arranged adjacent the upper end of the window opening up through which the up-. per end portions of the guide rods 5 pass, said ring-shaped devices either consisting of screw eyes that are connected to the side members of the window frame or ring-, shaped devices that are connected to the brackets 1 in which the roller B is sup- 10,0 ported. In arranging the guide rods 5 in op: erative position the upper ends of same are first slipped upwardly through the ring shaped devices 15, and thereafter the lower ends of said guide rods are screwed downwardly into the brackets 14. In addition to forming a convenient means for attaching the lower ends of the guide rods 5 to the window frame, the brackets lealso serve as stops that limit the downward movement of the sleeves 4; to which thesaid arms 3 of the yoke-shaped frame are pivotally connected,

It is immaterial how the lower end of the strip of fabric A is connected to; thecross piece 2 of the frame that holds'the lower 11 5 7 portion of the fabric extended, but I prefer to provide the fabric with a casing through which the cross piece 2 extends and provide said cross piece with notches 2 located adjacent the side edges ofthe strip of fabric A, so that the fabric can be secured to the cross piece 2 by a few stitches of thread that pass through the notches 2% in said cross piece, thereby preventing the lower end portion of the fabric A from shifting or moving 12 5 transversely with relation to the cross piece 2 of the extension frame;

A window awning of the construction above described is inexpensive to manufacture and install it is not liable to jamdurr30 ing the operation of raising or lowering the awning by reason of the transversely-disposed member G binding on the guide rods 5,;due, of course, to the fact that the member 0 is pivotally connected to tubular bearings 7 that slide on the guiderods, and there is no liability of the member C binding, in case the guide rods 5 are not arranged in absolutely parallel relation to each other, this, of course, being due to the fact that the bearings 7 are connected to the member C in such'a manner that they can move inwardly or outwardly relatively to said member. In addition to the desirable features above pointed out, the transversely-disposed member or bar C of my improved awning is secured to the window frame in such a manner when the awning is in use that there is little liability of said member becoming disarranged or the guide rods 5 being bent outwardly when the fabric A of the awning is subjected to abnormal strains in high wind storms.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A window awning, comprising a strip of fabric, a roller to which the upper end of said fabric is connected, means for holding the lower end portion of said strip of fabric extended when the awning is in use, a transversely-disposed bar or member under which the fabric passes, guide rods on which said member can slide vertically, and means for enabling said member to assume a slightly angular position without binding on said guide rods.

2. A window awning, comprising a strip of fabric, a roller to which the upper end of said fabric is connected, means for holding the lower end portion of said strip of fabric extended when the awning is in use, a transversely-disposed bar or member under which the fabric passes, guide rods on which said member can slide vertically, and means for preventing said member from binding on the guide rods in case said guide rods are not arranged in absolutely parallel relation to each other.

3. A window awning, comprising a strip of fabric, a roller to which the upper end of said fabric is connected, means for holding the lower end portion of said strip of fabric extended when the awning is in use, a transversely-disposed bar or member under which the fabric passes, guide rods on which said member can slide vertically, and means for preventing said member from binding on the guide rods in case said member becomes arranged in a slightly angular position or in case the guide rods are not arranged in absolutely parallel relation to each other.

4. A window awning, comprising a strip of fabric, a roller to which the upper end of said fabric is connected, means for holding the lower portion of said fabric extended when the awning is in use, a transverselydisposed bar or member under which the fabric passes, vertically-disposed guide rods at the sides of the window opening, bearings slidingly mounted on said guide rods, and a pivotal connection between said bearings and said transversely-disposed member.

5. A window awning, comprising a strip of fabric, a roller to which the upper end of said fabric is connected, means for holding the lower portion of said fabric extended when the awning is in use, a transverselydisposed bar or member under which the fabric passes, vertically-disposed guide rods at the sides of the window opening, bearings slidingly mounted on said guide rods, and a slot and pin connection between said bearings and said transversely-disposed member.

(3. A window awning, comprising a strip of fabric, a roller to which the upper end of said fabric is connected, means for holding the lower portion of said fabric extended when the awning is in use, a transverselydisposed bar or member under which the fabric, passes, vertically-disposed guide rods at the sides of the window opening, bearings slidingly mounted on said guide rods, inwardly-projecting lugs or ears on said bearings that embrace the ends of said transversely-disposed member, and pins in said ears that pass through elongated slots in the end portions of said transversely-disposed member.

7 A window awning, comprising a strip of fabric, a roller to which the upper end of said fabric is connected, means for holding the lower portion of said fabric extended when the awning is in use, vertically-disposed guide rods at the sides of the window opening, a transversely-disposed bar or member under which the fabric passes, bearings pivotally connected to the ends of said member and slidingly mounted on said guide rods, and means for locking said transversely-disposed member in operative position when the awning is in use.

8. A window awning, comprising a strip of fabric, a roller to which the upper end of said fabric is connected, means for holding the lower portion of said fabric extended when the awning is in use, vertically-disposed guide rods at the sides of the window opening, a transversely-disposed bar or member under which the fabric passes, bearings pivotally connected to the ends of said member and slidingly mounted on said guide rods, and hook-shaped devices on said bearings that cooperate with devices on the side members of the window frame to arrest the downward movement of said transverselydisposed member and also secure it to the; window frame when the awning is lowered.

9. A window awning, comprising a strip of fabric, a roller to which the upper end of said fabricis connected, guide rods arranged at the sides of the Window opening,

a substantially U-shaped frame slidingly brackets on the side members of the Window frame provided with internally screwthreaded openlngs into wh ch the lower ends of said guide rods are screwed, and substantially ring-shaped devices arranged adjacent the upper end of the window opening up through which the upper end portions of said guide rods Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

the fabric in a substantially vertical position when the awning is in use, a substantially U-shaped extension frame Whose cross piece is connected to the lower end of the fabric, sleeves on said guide rods to which the inner ends of the side arms of said frame are pivotally connected, and notches in the cross piece of said frame for preventing the fabric from movingtransversely with relation to said cross piece. 1

JOSEPH POKORNY.

Washington, D. G. V 

